September 2020 4

[ChipsAreLife]

New thread...

Hope you’re all doing well and nice to see the updates. I’m really confused with mixed messages about if pregnant women are a risk. This was posted on my local hospital page and said we are not but seen a few posts saying we are? Also called my GP to book 25 week appointment as first time mum and nobody called me back. My 16 week was telephone calls which she forgot and called me a week later and didn’t say much. Feels a bit disappointing..

www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/#general

@Sep20baby we are classed as clinically vulnerable, which means being strict about social distancing, avoiding seeing people as much as possible.

There have been some very sad outcomes from pregnant women having the virus which I won't post specific details of as know some people are avoiding that type of news. (wish I had)

My consultant has told me to avoid shops, but can go for walks. I guess everyone has to balance their own personal comfort with risk and what they are willing to do Etc.

Speaking of needing to wee all the time...we had an emergency plumber in the other morning so I went out for the morning with my toddler so we wouldn't be in the house. Went to a nearby field to play and let him run around... But of course after twenty minutes I was desperate for a wee and couldn't even rush home as the water was all off. So I weed behind a bush

That’s what I thought. But my antenatal department have said we are not

@Lazydaisydaydream I thought we were just more vulnerable, not clinically as we would have received a letter. We need to be more careful but not total isolation like those who had the letter had been. I've been going to the shop weekly but go later in the evening when it's much quieter. I also wfh and my boss is not expecting me back in before Mat leave.

I think a lot is down to how you feel and how much interaction you want. You have to do what you think is best and there is definitely no right or wrong way!

And talking of loos, we went out for a picnic today but made sure I could run home if I needed the loo 😂

I think the classification changes for women in the third trimester

@WillowT I think you're getting confused between clinically vulnerable and extremely clinically vulnerable. The second group are the ones who got letters to shield. Pregnant women have always been in clinically vulnerable group throughout pregnancy but advised to be more stringent in third trimester. They have made all of this way more complicated than it needed to be I think!

@Lazydaisydaydream Thanks! I agree it's all been a bit confusing!

This link explains it much more clearly than I did

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/whos-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/

@lazydaisydaydream lol I've had to wee behind a bush recently as well 😉

I wonder when they will readdress it as the 12 weeks is up in 2 weeks.

Hi @MooseWL after discussion with my partner today we have decided not to get the bathroom done. I just feel it's too risky letting anyone in the house. All we want is for our little one to be born healthy and happy and that's all that matters now. The baby bath should do for first few months and we could even upgrade to a bigger baby bath if needed after 6 months but for now the work is on hold!

Has anyone else got children that are meant to be going back to school next week? I’ve got one in secondary not going back and one in year 6 that’s meant to be. Just don’t know whether to send her with me being pregnant. My husband thinks it’s too risky and just to carry on homeschooling her and my parents think it’s better she goes back to school. Just don’t know what to do for the best!

@Emmy2020 personally if your circumstances mean you can keep them home then I would for a little longer. But I am very risk averse

I have a child in year 6. He's going to go back. The measures in his school are he is in a bubble of 6, same 6 and same teacher through June. He goes back part time 2.5 days a week, so that the other quarters of 6 are split between classrooms and half's of the week, 24 of 31 children are returning. The bubbles stay together all day for class, lunch, own bathroom, own drop off and collection points and times. Anyone with symptoms and the school will close. Being year 6 they are expected to follow social distancing rules whilst at School (reception and year 1 won't be following those same rules).

The main reasons for us was purely to get he social/friends again prior to the next long break through August and the transition into secondary school. The days going back tie in with the days I'm working from home, so it will give me some time to actually get my work in order before I start Mat leave end of July.

To add we do live in the South West, it's a fairly small school (one class per year group) and we've had a pretty low transmission and death rate in the County. Our teacher in the bubble is fantastic and I think our child will get a lot of fun and social aspects to returning and will really help his mental health having a bit of normality and less gaming on our computer :-)

@Emmy2020 my daughter is in year 1 so her class is going back but I decided to keep her at home for now. I'll wait a couple of weeks and see how things are. My son's preschool is also reopening but I'm keeping him at home. My husband and I are working from home so keeping the kids at home is not a big problem.
Could you wait a week or two to see how things go before sending her back? I read somewhere that it's ok to send a child back even if there is a vulnerable person at home (they say children dont spread the disease,
not so sure about that) but I understand your worries because I worry as well.

Thank you @Lazydaisydaydream @HugeAgeGap & @Lilice My husband said maybe we could keep her off a week or two and see how it goes before sending her back. I live in the south west too. Her school is going back full time 8.55-3.30 Monday-Thursday and finish early Fridays. I thought it would only two or three days like other schools but unfortunately not! She doesn’t go back til Tuesday so I have one more day to decide.

@HugeAgeGap We haven’t been told how many of her class are going back so no idea of numbers at the moment. I think her class might get split though. I did want her her to go to help with the transition although there’s only 4 including her going to the same secondary school. She’s not keen on going back at all though and is getting upset about it.

@Emmy2020 they're also going back full time at my daughter's school, which really surprised me. We have a WhatsApp group with the other moms so I know a lot wont be going back either. I asked my daughter if she wanted to go back but she isn't keen either. Her best friend isnt going back either, and there's so many rules put in place, I didnt really see the social benefit of it. But I'll see what the other moms say in a couple of weeks, the ones who are sending their kids back. If their feedback is positive and the infection rate is low, I might change my mind and send her back.
Could your daughter check if her closest friends are also going back before you make a decision?

Hi @Emmy2020 we are sending our pre schooler and reception aged DDs back. The rate of the virus where I am is very low. they're in bubbles, school has been very encouraging and made us happy to send them back.

My youngest is still 3, she's an August baby and starts school the day before my section is booked. She has regressed hugely since schools closed and I think it'll all be way too much for her come September starting school and mummy having a baby.

Selfishly I have found working from home very tough because I have do a lot of writing and calls mainly and it's very hard to concentrate with constant interruptions. DH work is starting to pick up now and he spends a lot of time on the phone so it's very hard to balance.

It's really an individual choice based on your child, area, school, etc, I would just do what's right for you x

I agree, I don't think there's a right and a wrong decision here. I just think different circumstances mean it's good that we're being given the choice to make as parents based on our own individual circumstances. I would do what you think is right for your family and situation and in turn that will be the right decision for you, whether it's back to school or continuing learning at home x

@Lilice Sounds the same as my daughter, her best friend isn’t going but I think one or two of her close friends are. Think the fact her best friend won’t be there isn’t helping. I’m leaning towards thinking of leaving it a week or two and see what other parents say then make a decision. Thanks @ChipsAreLife totally agree it’s an individual choice, think I’ll use tomorrow to really think about what I’m going to do! Thanks again 😊

Has anyone signed up for NCT classes? They’re doing them on zoom at the moment and although there’s a 15% discount for that my local one is still £200. There will be a physical meet up after the babies arrive as well. I’d quite like to do it mainly to be able to connect with other mums-to-be near me. Has anyone done them before and did you think they are worth it?

@pangolin84 we signed up way back in March and ours are also now on Zoom. Start on the 20/6. Its a litte disappointing but hoping itll still be worth it! Xx

@pangolin84 I might have done it if things were normal but I'm not paying so much money for zoom sessions. My brother and his wife did it two years ago and enjoyed it, made some baby friends who they still see